** 2024 Commencement Updates **

** 2024 Commencement Updates **

Jazz Ensemble Concert April 21

Las Vegas, N.M. – The Highlands University Department of Music presents the university’s Jazz Ensemble in concert April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Theater, 800 National Ave.

Highlands University music professor Edward Harrington directs the Jazz Ensemble and plays bass and trombone for the ensemble. Music faculty member Kevin Zoernig is the pianist and concert co-director.

“Our playlist includes classic swing tunes like I’m Getting Sentimental Over You and It Don’t Mean a Thing,” Harrington said. “Latin jazz tunes include Girl From Ipanema and One Note Samba. Bluesy arrangements include C Jam Blues and Sugar Blues.”

Highlands University music students featured in the concert include:

  • Nita Lujan, vocals and percussion
  • Jamie García – vocals and trumpet
  • Luisa Pacheco – trumpet
  • Christopher Barela – tenor saxophone
  • Geneva Poteet – cello
  • Daniel Sharp – guitar
  • Kevin Baca – guitar and piano
  • Andrew McCarthy – piano
  • Brandi Aragon – vocals
  • Sebastian Jaramillo – percussion
  • Donaciano Vigil – percussion
  • Jaylene García – guest vocalist
  • Cierra Gomez – guest vocalist
  • Elijah Thomas – mixing engineer
  • Cassidy Kear – assistant mixing engineer

Harrington said most of the music in this year’s Jazz Ensemble concert comes for a large music collection retired Highlands music professor Ron Theilmann donated in 2016.

“This collection also includes popular music and we will also perform songs like Zoot Suit Riot, Mambo No. Five, and I Feel Good,” Harrington said.

Las Vegas community members performing in the Jazz Ensemble include Mark Gillingham on baritone saxophone, Bruce Holmes on alto saxophone, Steve Leger on trumpet, and Leroy “Pato” Lucero on percussion.

“The Department of Music is very grateful for the valuable contributions these community members make to the students and the quality of our concerts,” Harrington said.

The concert also features original arrangements from Harrington, Zoernig and Holmes.

Harrington said graduating senior Kevin Baca is accepted to the University of New Mexico master’s degree program in piano performance, and graduating senior Andrew McCarthy is accepted into the master’s degree program in music therapy at Colorado State University.

Ticket prices are $8. Highlands University students with valid IDs are free along with other students with IDs. There will also be a bake sale to raise funds for the Department of Music.